Introduction
Upon downloading and installing Microsoft Office 2016 on your PC without a product key, the title bar will eventually show “Product Activation Failed.” The explanation is that Office 2016 is not a free download; to use it, you must purchase a product key.
On the other hand, Office can be easily activated with KMS, a free tool however, if you’re unsure about how the Office 2016 KMS key functions, read on for a thorough explanation in this post.
A Key Management Service (KMS): What is it?
As the name suggests, the Key Management Service is an end-to-end platform for managing keys and data encryption. KMS is an easy-to-use, dependable, safe, and standard-compliant solution for encrypting and safeguarding data. It has four primary components: the certificate manager, key service, dedicated KMS, and secret manager, and it performs various functions. Although it supports a variety of platforms, some of the most popular services it oversees are as follows:
- API key
- SSH key duos
- Private key for an SSL certificate
- Keys for database encryption
- Private keys for document signing
- Private keys for code signing
Among the many advantages of the Key Management Service is its scalability, which enables administrators of large organizations to activate multiple keys for applications. It is also economical. In addition, KMS supports industry-leading cryptographic architecture that complies with security regulations.
How Can I Use KMS to Activate Office 2016? MS Office 2016 Activation Key
KMS is a versatile tool that can activate a wide range of Microsoft programs, including Office. KMS can activate Office 2016 on a computer (Windows 10). However, ensure you have Office 2016 volume-licensed since it has the Generic Volume License Key (GVLK) preinstalled. GVLK typically enables you to install Office so that it will find and activate itself on the KMS host using a unique VLSC in DNS.
One benefit of a volume license is that the office will always activate itself by utilizing a DNS record to look for a local KMS server throughout the installation process. It also activates itself for 180 days after it discovers one. You do not need to manually enter the GVLK key if your computer’s Office is installed and linked to the Active Directory.
It’s important to take into account Microsoft’s planned end-of-support date for that volume version of Office before deploying a KMS activation host. Microsoft plans to terminate support for MS Office 2016 and Office 2018 on October 14, 2025. Remember this and note the next reactivation date.
Installing the Volume Activation Service is a prerequisite for using KMS to activate Office 2016. To activate Office 2016, follow the instructions below to obtain the Volume Activation Service and use the KMS host service.
Look for PowerShell on your computer, then launch it as administrator. Run the following command in the Service Manager to install the Volume Activation Service:
1. Go to the Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) website for Microsoft Office 2016, log in, and locate or copy the kmsauto host key.
2. Download the most recent version of the Microsoft Office Volume License Pack by visiting the Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center.
3. To find the file path, run the file you downloaded using the command to open the command line as administrator.
4. Following installation, you will be given the option to activate using directory-based activation (ADBA) or directly with the KMS host. Select the KMS host direct activation for the sake of this article.
5. Launch a command prompt with administrator privileges after choosing the activation type, then type “slmr –ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx” and substitute the volume license key for “xxxxx” to install the KMS Host Key.
As an alternative, you can use the Volume Activator Tools to install the KMS host key by entering the host key in the designated field. After that, select Office 2016 as the product type and decide if you want to activate it online or over the phone.